Vision felt the pressure leave his body the second he walked out of that room. His final exam was over, and he could finally relax for a few weeks. Luckily the exams he had to complete were in subjects he excelled in; the ones he was less confident on being in an assignment format where he could review and edit his work. Wrapping his coat further across his body to avoid the bitter wind, he headed back to his dorm to finish packing for the holidays. Tony had insisted on Vision joining him, Pepper and his parents in Malibu, despite his multiple protests of the cost and overall extravagance of it. But one never says no to Tony Stark, so he soon relented and accepted the gesture for what it was.
The sky was already turning dark by the time he got back to his dorm, the winter well and truly settling into the city. He sent Wanda a quick text asking how the final game went; the brunette finding out the results for nationals after the final routine was over, before adding a few extra clothes into his suitcase. His friendship with Wanda was growing by the day. Vision would admit to himself he was quite an awkward person, but he soon found out that she was as well, and somehow that made them relax around each other. He knew there was so much more to Wanda than she let on, however every so often she would tell him something more: about how her mum would make paprikash every Friday night, how she would sit on her dad's lap and watch him while he completed the crossword, how Pietro would race her home and win every time. It was refreshing, and Vision basked in her happiness as she told these stories.
Once he was satisfied he had packed as much as he could, he moved onto wrapping his Secret Santa present for tomorrow. Vision had picked Scott, much to his relief as he was secretly dreading getting one of the girls. After a quick search he had managed to find a decent magic trick set, his friend forever trying and failing to pull a quarter from behind his ear. Just as he was adding the finishing touches, he heard a lot of banging and screaming coming from the hall outside his door. Vision moved the present to the side and got up, slightly taken aback when the knocks started on his door. The blonde had about a second to react before Wanda launched herself at him, only just managing to catch her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"I got nationals!" she all but screamed in his ear before leaning back and looking at him. Vision beamed and spun her around, revelling in the squeal she released before placing her down onto the floor.
"I told you you'd make it. I'm so happy for you" he grinned before hugging her once again, her petite body fitting in his arms like a glove. They only pulled away when Hope and Pepper barrelled into his room with matching grins.
"Am I safe to assume you all got in?" Vision asked, chuckling when the girls answered by hugging him tightly. His tiny dorm room felt even smaller when Tony and Scott joined the party, whooping and chanting "Daytona". Vision looked to Wanda for an explanation, the brunette providing the detail that nationals are held in Daytona Beach every year.
"You're more than welcome to come and watch, by the sounds of it these guys are coming" she gestured to Tony and Scott before continuing. "But it's in April, so I completely get it if you wanted to stay and study before exams-"
"I'd love to come" he answered without hesitation, smiling shyly when he realised how eager he sounded. Fortunately Wanda blushed as well, offering an adorable smile of her own.
"I'm glad, it would be nice to have you there" she responded, seeing his blue eyes glisten with pure joy at her answer. It was only then that she looked around and realised the others had left them to it, and that this was the first time she had been in Vision's dorm room. It was the same layout as hers and Nat's; with two beds parallel to each other, a small dresser at the foot of the bed and a desk at the head. However one side was completely bare, making Vision's personal touches stand out that much more.
"Are you not going to get another roommate?" she asked, taking a seat on his bed.
"Not that I'm aware of, but I guess it's always a possibility of getting a transfer or someone who wants to switch rooms" he shrugged in response, sitting next to her with a sweet smile. Wanda's gaze drifted around the room, her heart dropping when she noticed Vision had next to no photos on his wall. Whether it was just a girl thing to hang photos up she didn't know, but she couldn't help but think about his past, and whether he had no photos on display because he had no photos at all.
"So are you excited about going to Malibu for Christmas?" She changed the subject after noticing his packed bag on the other side of the room.
"It will definitely be different that's for sure. I'm just grateful Tony has allowed me to join him. What about you? I know you're not leaving the state but I'm sure it would be nice to get away from the city for a while?" Vision returned the question, watching as Wanda leaned back on his bed, propping herself up on her elbows.
"Yeah it will. As much as I love the city I can't wait for a bit of peace and quiet" she smiled brightly at him, but it falters a couple of seconds later. Her eye-line fell to her right hand as her fingers played with a loose thread on Vision's sheet.
"I'm going to miss you" she whispered so quietly Vision wonders if he heard her right. But when her green eyes look up at him and a sad smile crosses her lips, he can't help but reciprocate the gesture.
"I'm going to miss you too. But we will still talk, and before we know it we will be back here wishing we weren't" he chuckled, trying to make light of the situation. Wanda just rolled her eyes before she joined in, leaning in closer and wrapping her arms around his waist. Before he could move his arm to bring her closer, a banging on his door makes them spring apart.
"Wanda, we're heading off. You coming?" Hope called out from the other side.
"Yeah coming" Wanda replied before standing up, Vision following suit.
"See you tomorrow, Vis" she smiled sweetly at him, quickly pecking his cheek and running out before he could respond. Before the door could shut, Tony ran out of his room and into his.
"Why are you smiling? You get a quickie in?" Vision rolled his eyes at the question and put his hand on Tony's shoulder.
"Get out" he simply said, closing his door and smiling yet again.
Wanda and Nat turned up to the house the next evening, wearing their mandatory cheesy Christmas jumpers and a bag each which concealed their Secret Santa presents. Seconds after Natasha knocked on the door they were greeted by Sam, wearing a light-up reindeer jumper and a santa hat.
"Welcome to Lapland, ladies!" he announced, moving away and gesturing towards the house. Before he let them through though, he stopped them and pointed to the top of the doorframe.
"It's mandatory" he winked while Natasha rolled her eyes at the sprig of mistletoe. Before Wanda could even take in the new information, Natasha had grabbed her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Happy?" the blonde asked as she pushed her way through.
"Very" Sam answered, letting Wanda through before closing the door and following them.
"Presents are upstairs in Steve's room, Natasha can show you the way" he carried on, yelping when Nat smacked him across the back of the head and made her way upstairs. The pair placed their presents on the bed, already seeing an array of gifts all wrapped up in various states of quality. Some were well wrapped with the edges neatly folded over and minimal tape used, others involved excessive amounts of paper and a whole roll of sellotape. Wanda giggled to herself as she looked around, trying to find her name on one of them.
"Come on, I'm hungry and ready for a drink" Natasha was already at the door, hand on the handle ready to close it. The brunette quickly made her way out, walking down the stairs and being greeted by everyone else in the living room. Wanda had to give the boys credit; they had turned their what would normally be a very messy and virtually impractical living room into a little grotto, setting up a long table in the middle with decorated seats all around. They had snowflakes dangling from the lights, tinsel around the walls and fake snow on the windows.
"I have to say boys, I'm impressed" Wanda complimented them, both Sam and Steve puffing their chests out at the ego boost. She scanned the room and saw Vision standing off to the side talking to Tony, wearing an adorable blue penguin jumper that somehow complimented him really well. Before she could go over to see him, she ended up in the doorway again with Sam smirking at her.
"This is going to get old really fast, Wilson" she mumbled as she gave him the quickest peck on the lips.
"This can never get old, Maximoff" he responded, quickly moving to the kitchen doorway and catching Hope standing under it. Wanda just laughed to herself before following him to get herself a drink.
After everyone's drink was topped up, they all moved into the makeshift grotto while Sam and Steve brought out all the food.
"You did not make all of this!" Pepper said, her eyes raking over the giant turkey, potatoes and a wide variety of vegetables. Before Sam could make up some lie about how they were domestic Gods and perfect husband material, Steve admitted they had help from their neighbour.
"But it's the thought right? At least we're not risking food poisoning" Sam backed themselves up, not wanting to admit full defeat.
"I don't care who made it, I just wanna eat it" Tony commented, raising his glass and prompting everyone else to follow.
"Merry Christmas you weird and wonderful lot, may Santa bring you great presents and lots of alcohol" he announced, everyone clinking their glasses together and helping themselves to the food. Wanda ended up sitting next to Pietro and Hope, with Vision directly opposite her being flanked by Tony and Violet. They all soon demolished the food, Pietro giving Sam a run for his money over how many plates of food they could eat. It was exactly what Wanda wanted, and what she realised she had been missing out on. After their parents' deaths, her and Pietro never really celebrated a holiday. They made each their own, from Pietro stealing a single rose from a bouquet on Valentine's Day to Wanda smuggling an easter egg under her too big dress for her brother. When the twins started working at the dance studio, their bosses were generous enough to give them a bonus around Christmas; either in the form of extra money or a little gift, but it still left them alone on the day itself. A sense of belonging and pure happiness was something Wanda craved since the first holiday after that fateful day. She looked over at Vision and smiled at him, making him beam in return. She knew he would be in the same boat, knowing what his childhood was like. Although she could imagine somewhere like an orphanage would try their best to make Christmas magical for the children there, she somehow knew this was the best he's had in a long time. She was extra thankful that she had someone like him becoming a huge part of her life. They were still young, still had their whole lives ahead of them, but she knew he would remain in her life in one way, shape or form.
Shortly after the food was eaten and the plates cleared away, the boys brought down the presents and handed them out. Wanda watched with one eye as Steve opened his, internally sighing with relief when his grin nearly took over his face as he examined the bottle. She then moved her focus to her own present, peeling back the wrapping paper and revealing a mahogany coloured wooden jewellery box, a red travel mug and a small box of peppermint tea bags. The jewellery box looked handmade and intricately crafted, with butterflies carved out across the lid and sides. Whoever pulled her name out clearly knew her, or asked Nat for tips, but either way she was thrilled. She said her thanks to no-one in particular, missing the small smirk Bucky had on his face, before her attention was pulled to Vision who had burst out laughing over his present.
"Sam, it's meant to be a secret Santa" he clarified, holding up a laptop sleeve with Sam's face on.
"Hey who said I got you that? Maybe someone else thought you would appreciate looking at me every time you got your laptop out" Sam replied, feigning innocence.
"Well thank-you to whoever it was, I clearly wanted nothing more" the blonde joked, clearing away the wrapping paper and placing it in the sack Steve had brought in for rubbish.
Everyone else was thrilled with their gifts; while some people went down the funny route and others more sentimental, every gift had a lot of thought behind it. The group moved out into the kitchen, refilling their drinks and turning up the Christmas music. Sam's genius plan of having mistletoe in every doorway soon backfired when he ended up kissing Pietro three times and Scott once, pulling down all the sprigs in the house and banning the rule. After a catch up with the girls, Wanda and Vision were finally able to catch each other at the moment where neither were caught up in a conversation.
"I like your jumper" he complimented, Wanda looking down and pulling at the fabric on her black candy cane jumper.
"Thank-you. Yours is cute too. So have you enjoyed yourself?" she asked.
"I have, it's been a very long time since I've been a part of anything like this before. How about you?" he reciprocated, Wanda giving a similar answer while twirling her mother's wedding ring which hung from her neck. That was the only thing aside from the photos that Wanda and Pietro had of their parents, Pietro wearing their father's on his little finger. Vision noticed, but decided not to comment on it. He instead smiled a small, shy smile and rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness.
"I've bought you something, just a little something for Christmas" he told her as he walked into the living room where his bag was. Wanda followed, heading over to her bag and pulling out a small package as well. They both met in the middle and Vision blushed as he realised Wanda had also thought to get him something outside of the Secret Santa.
"It's not much, but I wanted to get you something. Merry Christmas, Vis" she handed over the gift, wrapped in a shiny gold paper with a red ribbon wrapped around it.
"I apologise for my wrapping, I'm not as good at it as you are"
"It's the thought that counts" she replied quickly, accepting the present. The edges were a bit crinkled and the tape had taken off a bit of the print from where he had stuck the tape down, lifted it and replaced in a different position, but it was nothing like a few of the attempts she saw earlier in the evening. As always their moment was ruined, Tony strolling into the room seconds later.
"Vision, as much as I hate to leave a party when it's not finished, we better get going. We're getting picked up super early" he explained, Vision just nodding and heading out to say goodbye to everyone.
"Have an amazing Christmas, I'll speak to you soon" he said, a sad tone in his voice as he hugged Wanda tightly, her dainty arms a comfort as they moved around his neck.
"Safe travels, text me when you land please" she asked as they pulled away, Vision just nodding before planting a kiss on her cheek and heading down the street with Tony, Pepper, Scott and Hope, who were also travelling to California for the holidays. The remaining five also left shortly after, Pietro heading off with Bucky and Violet as they were in the same dorm after they walked the girls back to theirs. They both got ready for bed quickly, wanting to get as much sleep as possible before a day of travelling. They were travelling themselves to just outside of the city before being picked up by Clint to drive them the rest of the way. Both of them checked their bags to make sure everything was packed apart from the things they needed in the morning, Wanda tucking her present between her clothes to keep it safe before climbing into bed.
"So glad I can get rid of that horrible jumper" Natasha groaned, shoving said jumper in the bottom of her drawers.
"It was a good night though, everyone made the effort" Wanda said, and even Natasha had to agree with her on that. They both soon quietened down, ready to escape the city and university life.